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And today she was hauled before Nottingham Crown Court to be sentenced.

She was not punished for leaving the UK, claiming she was under strain and stress, but was given five years for her role in the conspiracy.

Judge James Sampson told her: “You are obviously a clever woman and intelligent but thoroughly dishonest and a brazen liar.”

Gang members were found guilty in September of conspiracy to commit fraud by making false representations to HMRC between January 1, 2008, and April 14, 2010.

Magdalena's co-accused received a total of 12 years in sentences.

Led by her partner Julius Ziga, 34, the couple controlled and managed the plot.

They withdrew a steady supply of cash from banks accounts – around £33,000 a week between January 2008 and April 2010.

Some of the money was used for gambling at casinos in Nottingham and other cities. They bought luxury cars, including a Mercedes and BMW 5 series.

Gang members arranged for often vulnerable foreign nationals or “benefit tourists” from Slovakia and the Czech Republic to be brought to the city to make false claims.

The claimants would be temporarily housed in Nottingham and then “helped” to get a National Insurance number and open a bank account.

Applications for tax credits and child benefit were made and once processed, the gang would send the foreign nationals home. The defendants arranged for visitors, usually from Slovakia, to come to the UK, where they had a right to work and claim benefit.

They each had differing roles in the plot to con Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) out of tax credits – a benefit to help low-income workers.

Tax credit claims were made and the cash paid into the newly-opened bank account, then withdrawn, and controlled by one of the gang.

Judge James Sampson told Magdalena: “I accept your decision to abscond was irrational. It reflects self interest, which in my judgement, is the guiding light in your life.

“Over a two-year period, beginning in 2008, you and others together stole approximately £750,000 in tax credits, that is public money, by making and managing some 50 false claims. The precise figures and exact numbers of false claims cannot be known.

“I am satisfied that the figures I have just mentioned fairly reflects the total extent of the criminality here.”

Defendants Iveta Ferkova, 32, of Cardinal Close, St Ann’s, who is the sister of Magdalena, Jan Lacko, 39, and Alena Lackova, who are husband and wife, were all convicted.

Alena, 39, a mother-of-three, of the same address as Lacko in Edale Road, Sneinton, is Magdalena and Iveta’s aunt.

They all denied having roles in the conspiracy. Ziga, 34, formerly of Cromer Road, St Ann’s, pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy.

Judge James Sampson sentenced Iveta Ferkova to five years in prison.

Lacko was given three years in prison and Alena Lackova received two years in prison, suspended for two years. Ziga was jailed for four years.

The jailed defendants have been recommended for deportation.

After the hearing, Carolyn Norsworthy, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said: “Magdalena Ferkova thought she could flee the country to avoid justice. She was wrong. We have tracked her down and, working with the Czech authorities, have brought her before the UK courts so justice can be served.

“Ferkova was part of an extremely well organised and ruthless crime group, committed to stealing vast amounts of public money at the expense of the British taxpayer. They exploited the many people they lured to the UK from abroad with the promise of legal employment, but then manipulated and discarded them.”

39 comments

Well we are told the benefits this country get's with the need for immigrants, Well now we are being told again, They are taking this country for fools and this is only what they want us to know, How many more millions are they taking in this way

After a five sojourn in Australia can report that they have the same problems as us. Shootings, stagings, drugs, gang violence and a good deal of the perpetrators are immigrants, illegal and otherwise!

I am sure that's how they justify their criminal acts to themselves, smshogun, just as the corporations evading tax justify their actions by claiming that they would pay the taxes if the rates were "more reasonable." Fortunately, that isn't how democracy works.

Bill:
It hasn't escaped me at all, my point is simply the misuse of the word taxpayer because everyone living in the UK pays tax in numerous forms.
As for the booze and fags issue; doesn't it clearly suggest to you that the tax on these products is far too high if it creates a profitable black market for them, and a profitable black market encourages more criminal activities from those not normally engaging in criminal activities.